SERA in a nutshell

The Seismology and Earthquake Engineering Research Infrastructure Alliance for Europe (SERA) aims to reduce the risk posed by natural and anthropogenic earthquakes based on innovative research and development projects. SERA will significantly improve the access to data, services and research infrastructures for scientists and other professionals.

Specifically, SERA…

• collaborates with researchers involved in previous seismology and earthquake engineering projects like EPOS, NERA, SHARE, SERIES, NERIES, and SYNER-G;
• facilitates access to ten high-class experimental facilities such as shaking tables and reaction walls;
• offers access to data and products in seismology and anthropogenic seismicity in Europe;
• promotes multi-disciplinary science across the domains of seismology, anthropogenic seismicity, near-fault observatories, and deep underground laboratories to achieve an improved understanding of earthquake occurrence;
• facilitates collaboration and innovations in the fields of deep seismic sounding, experimental earthquake engineering, and site characterization. It will do so by expanding the access to seismological observations and infrastructures as well as by strengthening exchange within the expert’s community.

These efforts will lead to a revised European seismic hazard reference model. Also, the outcomes of the project will help to develop a first, comprehensive framework for seismic risk modelling at European scale. Furthermore, SERA will contribute to new standards for future experimental observations in earthquake engineering; for the design of instruments and networks for observational seismology; and reliable methodologies for real-time assessment of shaking and damage.

SERA is a Horizon 2020-supported programme responding to the priorities identified in the topic INFRAIA-01-2016-2017 ‘Integrating Activities for Advanced Communities’. SERA involves 31 partners and 8 linked third parties in Europe. It started in May 2017 and will last for three years.